RELATIONAL DEMOGRAPHY AND PERCEPTIONS OF GROUP CONFLICT AND PERFORMANCE: A FIELD INVESTIGATION

Abstract

In recent years organizational scholars and practitioners have avidly pursued an in‐depth understanding of demographic diversity and its consequences. This study contributes to such an understanding by examining how an individual's demographic distance from others in a work group shapes his or her perception of the group's conflict and performance. Data from 233 members of 42 blue‐collar groups reveal that gender and tenure dissimilarity increase the perception of emotional conflict, indirectly reducing individual ratings of group productivity. These results suggest a process by which relational demography may indirectly affect members' confidence in their group.